Elastic fabric



June 5, 1928.

H. w. WILSON ELASTIC FABRIC F iled March 16, 1925 Patented June 5, 1928.

a UNITED? STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' HENRY; W. WILSON, STOUGHTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO J. W. WOOD ELAS- TIC WEB COMPANY, OF STOUGHTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- CHUSETTS.

ELASTIC FABRIC.

' This invention relates to an elastic fabric of the woven type in which elastic warp threads and substantially non-elastic warp threads are combined with suitable filling threads to produce a fabric of improved ap pearance and of distinct utility. It is an important object of my invention to pro-' vide a fabric of this type in which each warp thread is maintained at a substantially uniform spacing from adjacent warp threads of the same kind throughout the length of the. pattern and in which adjacent warp threads of different kinds cross and recross throughoutthe length of the pattern.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particw Iarly pointed out in the appended claim.

Two forms of the invention are shown in the drawings in which v Fig. 1 is a plan view of the weave of one form of my improved fabric; and

Fig.2 is a similar View of a slightly different weave.

Referring to Fig. 1, I have indicated a weave for an elastic fabric comprising elastic warp threads 10, preferably .rubbercovered, substantially non-elastic warp threads 11, and filling or weft threads 12.

It will be understood that each of the warp or filling threads shown in the drawings may comprise a single thread or 'a group of threads acting as a unit. The terms warp thread and filling thread as used in this specification and in the claim appended thereto are intended to include all threads which act as a'unit, whether a single thread or an associated group of threads. i

The distinguishing feature of my improved fabric lies in the fact that the non-. elastic warpthreads 11 'are maintained sub stantially equally spaced from each other throughout the length ofthe pattern, while at the same time they cross and recross the interposed elastic, warp threads 10.

In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 1, each elastic warp thread 10 passes successively over a filling thread 12, under a filling thread 12, over a filling thread 12", under three successive filling threads 12,

'- and over a second filling thread 12 which marks the beginning of the next repeat of the pattern.

Each associated non-elastic warp thread 11 passes under a filling thread 12, over a filling thread 12", at the same time crossing over the associated elastic warp thread 10,

under a filling thread 12", over three filling threads 12", at the same time re-crossing the. elastic warp thrcadlO in the reversedirection, and under a second filling thread 12 which marks the beginning of the repeat of the pattern. 4 i i I In the weaving of such fabric, the elastic warp threads 10 are held under tension or in extended condition during the weaving and as soon as the tension is released the fabric contracts, thus giving it its elastic properties. By providing the three successive filling threads 12 alternating with the single filling threads, the fabric upon contraction assumes aribbed appearance which is pleasingly ornamental. This ribbed fabric also possesses a high degree of elasticity.

In the construction shown in Fig. 2, the fabric comprises elastic or rubber covered warp threads 20, substantially non-elastic warp threads 21, and filling or weft threads 22. The construction of the weave is very similar to that already described, except that each warp thread 20 or 21 passes alternately over and under two successive filling threads, instead of using the"s1ngle and triple combination of filling threads shown 'of threads may be devised by those skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the claim, and I do not wish to be otherwise limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim 1s:-

An elastic woven fabric composed of filling threads, and elastic and relatively nonelastic warp threads alternately arranged, said non-elastic warp threads being each initially located at the right of a correspondmg elastic warpthread and being bound I down at the under side of the fabric by a filling thread extending below all of said elastic warp threads, said non-elastic warp threads then crossing to the left at the upper side of the fabric over said associated elastic warp threads and over one or more picksof filling and being then bound at the under side of the fabrlc by 'a filling thread below said elastic warp thread, then re-crossing at th'e upper side of the fabric to the right over said elastic warp threads and over one or more picks of filling and being again bound down at the back of the fabric by an'additional filling thread to complete the pattern, all of said non-elastic warp threads being substantially arallel'to and equally spaced from each ot er throughout'the length of ghg fabric when considered lengthwise of the a, no.

In testimony whereof have hereunto afiixed my signature.

. HENRY W. WILSON. 

